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This position has closed. CDW removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Principal Technologist – VMware

CDW · IL · Remote available · $151,350–$211,870 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a hybrid infrastructure solution you designed end to end. What business objective drove it?

What they are checking: Whether their designs start from business outcomes rather than technology preferences.

How do you run an architectural visioning session with executives who have very different priorities?

What they are checking: Their facilitation skill with senior audiences, which drives large strategic engagements.

Tell me about a time you had to tell a customer that their preferred approach was a mistake.

What they are checking: Whether they act as a trusted advisor who will disagree respectfully, not just agree to close a deal.

How do you enable sellers so they can have a first conversation about hybrid infrastructure without you?

What they are checking: Whether they scale their knowledge through the sales team instead of being a bottleneck.

What would you do

Since the Broadcom acquisition, many customers are rethinking their VMware strategy. How do you advise them?

What they are checking: Whether they can give balanced, current advice on licensing and platform changes that affect customer budgets.

You are responding to an RFP with a short deadline and several unclear requirements. How do you approach it?

What they are checking: How they balance speed, accuracy and asking the right clarifying questions in formal procurement.

How do you hand off a solution you sold to the delivery team so it is implemented as designed?

What they are checking: Whether they bridge presales and delivery so the customer gets what was promised.

About the work

Tell me about a Statement of Work you wrote for a complex engagement. How did you keep scope from being misunderstood?

What they are checking: Whether they write SOWs that protect both the customer and the delivery team from surprises.

A customer wants to move half their VMware workloads to public cloud. How would you assess which ones should move?

What they are checking: Whether they evaluate workloads on cost, dependencies and performance rather than moving by default.

How would you design VMware infrastructure so it can scale for a customer expecting heavy growth over three years?

What they are checking: Their architecture depth across compute, storage and networking under growth assumptions.

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The full job description

As published by CDW.

Job Summary The Principal Solution Architect is a field-based technical pre-sales role responsible for developing complex Hybrid Infrastructure solutions for CDW customers. This role drives strategic engagements, provides consultative guidance, and aligns technology solutions to business objectives. The Principal Solution Architect partners with customers, sales, and delivery teams to enable growth, innovation, and long-term success. What you will do • Develop comprehensive Hybrid Infrastructure solutions, including architecture, optimization, assessments, and advisory services. • Provide consultative guidance to customers, aligning technical solutions with business objectives and strategic direction. • Lead complex sales engagements, including authoring Statements of Work (SOWs), proposals, and technical responses for RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs. • Analyze technical and competitive considerations to design scalable solutions that meet customer requirements. • Build and maintain strategic relationships with customers, internal sales teams, and delivery leadership. • Act as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert across Hybrid Infrastructure technologies and solutions. • Lead architectural visioning sessions and executive-level discussions with customers. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and enhance solution offerings and services. • Drive technical enablement, knowledge sharing, and mentoring for Solution Architects and technical teams. • Support business development initiatives and contribute to go-to-market strategies. • Acquire and maintain relevant technology and industry certifications. What we expect of you • Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of experience in a technical, pre-sales, or post-sale delivery role OR 14+ years of experience in a technical, pre-sales, or post-sale delivery role. • Motivated, self-starting, and able to independently perform high-quality work with minimal guidance. • Strong industry knowledge and domain expertise across Hybrid Infrastructure, architecture, products, and solutions. • Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and lead technical discussions. • Strong customer-focused mindset with excellent communication and presentation skills. • Ability to design and communicate complex solutions aligned to business outcomes. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in complex technical environments. • Demonstrated ability to mentor and influence technical teams and stakeholders. • Ability to operate effectively at executive levels and influence decisions. • Willingness to travel as needed. Pay range: $151,350 - $211,870 depending on experience and skill set Annual bonus target of 10% subject to terms and conditions of plan Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/ Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making. You don’t need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work. Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice. About Us CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what’s possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it. At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities. As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next. Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen. CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.